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Kelley retires at John Glenn

NEW CONCORD – John Glenn and John Kelley seem to have gone hand-in-hand for the last 20 years.

The longtime head football coach recently decided to call it a career after stops around the state during a 40-year coaching career.

"I lasted a long time in this profession and it was time for me to step away from things," he said. "I felt it was time to do something else and I'm ready to create a life after football."

Kelley graduated from Beallsville High School in 1964 and was a walk-on at Harding University in Arkansas, becoming a three-year letterman at outside linebacker.

He landed his first coaching job as an assistant at Shenandoah in 1969, then took over as head coach from 1973-82.

Following that were head coaching stops at Coshocton (1983-87), Mount Vernon (1988-90) and John Glenn from 1995 until this season.

In 38 years as head coach, Kelley was 220-166-2 and reached the playoffs seven times, including six with the Muskies.

"Each of my stops was like being at the right place at the right time," Kelley said. "I had great kids and good coaches by my side."

Kelley credits his love for the game for also keeping him in it for so long.

"I enjoyed being a coach immensely and if you don't love it, you're not going to last," he said. "Like they always say, if you have a job you love, you won't work a day of your life."

No matter what happens after football, Kelley will still miss the practices with great kids and the atmosphere of a Friday night game.

"The most enjoyable part of the week was being out with the kids on the practice field and preparing for Friday nights," he said. "Those nights are really special and it kept the juices going, which is something that I will definitely miss."

Kelley's career will officially come to a close in June when he is enshrined in the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame is at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Kelley will join John Magistro, John Gibbons, Jim Henson, Arte Altomare and Stan Jefferson as 2015 inductees.

It's a fitting conclusion to a legendary career for Kelley.

"I stood the test of time and hung around for a long time," he said. "So it's humbling to be included with guys on that wall who I have admired and studied throughout the years."